Demanding More Stringent Measurement, Some Brands Are Using Their Own Viewability Standards

HP and Nestle set their own definitions

For the past three years, brands have leaned on guidelines established by the Media Rating Council to ensure that they buy digital ads that are actually seen on websites and mobile apps. Now, a handful of big-name marketers claim that those requirements are not stringent enough and are pushing back with their own viewability standards that meet stricter criteria.

The MRC’s standard charges advertisers after 50 percent of a display ad is in view for one second and two seconds for video ads. The metric has become the de facto method of transacting with publishers and increasingly social platforms, but some brands say that they’re unsatisfied with the guidelines.

Some brands don’t see eye-to-eye

One such brand is HP, which has been working with measurement firm Integral Ad Science to create its own set of parameters to measure digital ads. Unlike the MRC’s definition, HP is optimizing its media spend for display ads that have 100 percent of pixels in view for five seconds. For video ads, 100 percent of a promo must be in view for half of the video’s length. In a 30-second pre-roll ad for example, HP is billable once 15 seconds play.

“We’re advocating for higher standards in reporting metrics, resulting in more transparency and security in ad buys to ensure the brand is reaching only target audiences and making meaningful, lasting connections,” said Dan Salzman, global head of media of analytics and insights at HP. “We know the MRC standard was a great leap in understanding viewability but for HP, we don’t think it goes far enough.”

Since HP products come at higher price points, consumers “need more information than can be communicated just using the MRC standard,” he added. “We set metrics that we think are a more common sense standard for what people need to see in order for our content to communicate effectively.”

HP backs up its tougher stance on viewability with internal stats, claiming that its standard has a conversion rate four times higher than the MRC’s standard. Finding ad inventory that can meet the higher requirement is hard though. HP says that 20 percent to 30 percent of available digital inventory meets its requirements, “which makes finding that inventory without inflating cost-per-thousand (or CPMs) the challenge,” said Salzman.

Working with GroupM—WPP’s media network that has been particularly proactive in advocating for higher viewability standards—Nestle has also established its own viewability metrics. According to a source, Nestle pays for display ads once they are in view for at least four seconds. That number is higher than GroupM’s recently-revamped requirements that include social video. Per GroupM, native, outstream and pre-roll videos must be 100 percent in view and play for half the length of the video. In-feed video on social platforms must also be 100 percent in view and GroupM is currently working on a time frame. For display ads, a placement must be 100 percent in view for at least one second.

“We are delivering higher viewability than the MRC industry standard—this sources from a strong digital accountability plan which guides our advertising investment strategy,” Nestle said in a statement.

According to the MRC, “we haven’t seen a large number of brands or entities moving toward individual viewability metrics,” said a rep in an email.

While Pritchard and others are demanding that Facebook, Google and others undergo audits to gain MRC accreditation, there’s a case to be made that any kind of standard—even low ones—are better than nothing. Plus, getting all of the digital industry on board with the MRC’s definition could lead to more stringent requirements in the future.